U.S. News

Actions

NYC Train Derailment Kills 4, Cause Remains Unknown

A New York City passenger train derailed Sunday killing four people and injuring 60.
Posted at
and last updated

Investigators are still working to figure out what caused a New York passenger train to derail killing four and injuring more than 60 people.  

"I thought I was gonna die, to be honest, I thought I was gonna die."

"I got thrown across back and forth and it came to like a halt and there was just people screaming." (Via WCBS)

The derailment occurred at about 7:20 Sunday morning sending dozens of firefighters, police officers and EMTs to the scene. (Via Fox News)

Rescue teams used giant inflatable airbags to lift one car of the train and rescue those trapped underneath. There was also a crane used to lift the derailed cars upright. 

-Rescue teams used giant inflatable airbags

-Passengers were trapped underneath derailed cars

-Crane lifted derailed cars

Three men and one woman were killed, and many were left seriously injured. 

"There's one gentleman with a spinal cord injury which could be quite serious, the other more serious injuries are severe fractures" (Via CNN)

After the wreckage was cleared investigators began the more difficult task of figuring out what caused the this tragedy.

WNBC reports the train's engineer is citing a malfunction with the brake. 

"Multiple sources tell News Four, Rockefeller told investigators he tried to apply the brakes before that curve but the brakes failed."

The Metro-North train was headed to Grand Central Station from Poughkeepsie, New York. The train derailed near the Spuyten Duyvil station, which actually has a history of these accidents. (Via Google Earth)

"This is a very fast curve a very sharp carve and it's called Spuyten Duyvil for a reason, in Dutch in means Spitting Devil and a few months ago we had a train derailment at this exact curve." (Via WABC)

In July, another train derailed in this same area causing severe delays but no injuries. Ten of the train's 24 cars carrying garbage derailed in that incident. (Via YouTube / VIDEOLANDMARKS)

This accident marks the first time in Metro-North's 31-year history that any passenger has died.